Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Linda McCartney

Paul McCartney has paid tribute to late sitarist Ravi Shankar.

“Very best vibrations and good feelings from us all on what would have been Ravi Shankar’s 100th birthday,” McCartney writes via Twitter.

“It was a privilege to know such a man,” the Beatle notes. “His talent was boundless and his loving spirit was the best. Happy Birthday, Ravi. We miss you. Love Paul.”

Accompanying the message as an image of McCartney and Ringo Starr alongside Shankar and his wife at Cirque du Soleil Beatles production Love in 2006.

Paul McCartney and fellow Beatle George Harrison first met Shankar in June 1966.

Returning from the band’s final US tour the pair were invited to dinner with Patricia and Ayana Deva Angadis of British music organization the Asian Music Circle.

(Patricia and Ayana would contribute eastern instrumentation on Revolver and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.)

Also present at the dinner was Ravi Shankar.

While Shankar found Paul “very charming and polite”, he and Harrison found an instant connection.

Quickly striking up a friendship with the sitar master, Harrison would be deeply influenced by Shankar’s music and Indian spirituality.

McCartney, while enthusiastic, would not as strongly delve into his fellow Beatle’s passion for Indian culture and meditation.

(This said Paul would write a dozen songs in Rishikesh, India after traveling to the region with the rest of the Beatles in 1967, including ‘Mother Nature’s Son’, ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’, and several other White Album tracks.)

Paul’s tribute follows another from Ringo Starr.

“On this day remembering the great Ravi Shankar,” Starr Tweets, “he was a beautiful human being and an incredible musician. Peace and love.

George Harrison’s son Dhani Harrison and wife Olvia Harrison have also marked the passing of Shankar’s centenary.

Shankar passed away in 2012 after struggling with respiratory illness.

Very best vibrations and good feelings from us all on what would have been Ravi Shankar’s 100th birthday. It was a privilege to know such a man. His talent was boundless and his loving spirit was the best. Happy Birthday Ravi. We miss you. Love Paul pic.twitter.com/iTUxjU7WlB

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) April 7, 2020

Paul McCartney 2020 Tour Dates
05/23 – Lille, FR @ Pierre Mauroy Stadium
05/26 – Paris, FR @ Paris La Défense Arena
05/29 – Nijmegen, NL @ Goffert Park
05/31 – Bordeaux, FR @ Stadium Matmut
06/04 – Hannover, DE @ HDI Arena
06/07 – Lyon, FR @ Groupama Stadium
06/10 – Naples, IT @ Piazza Plebiscito
06/13 – Lucca, IT @ Mura Storiche
06/17 – Barcelona, ES @ Olympic Stadium
06/21- Werchter, BE @ TW Classic Festival

06/27 – Pilton, UK @ Glastonbury Festival CANCELED